Palace of Sintra

Sintra, Portugal

The Palace of Sintra is the best-preserved medieval royal residence in Portugal, being inhabited more or less continuously from at least the early 15th century to the late 19th century. It is a significant tourist attraction, and is part of the cultural landscape of Sintra, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The history of the castle begins in the Moorish Al-Andalus era, after the Umayyad conquest of Hispania in the 8th century, when Sintra had two castles. One was located atop of a hill overlooking Sintra (known as the Castelo dos Mouros, now a romantic ruin).

The second castle was located downhill and was the residence of the Islamic Moorish Taifa of Lisbon rulers of the region. Its first historical reference dates from the 10th century by Arab geographer Al-Bacr. In the 12th century the village was conquered by King Afonso Henriques, who took the 'Sintra Palace' castle for his use. The blend of Gothic, Manueline, Moorish, and Mudéjar styles in the present palace is, however, mainly the result of building campaigns in the 15th and early 16th centuries.

Nothing built during Moorish rule or during the reign of the first Portuguese kings survives. The earliest surviving part of the palace is the Royal Chapel, possibly built during the reign of King Dinis I in the early 14th century. Much of the palace dates from the times of King John I, who sponsored a major building campaign starting around 1415.

Most buildings around the central courtyard date from this campaign, including the main building of the façade with the entrance arches and the mullioned windows in Manueline and Moorish styles, the conical chimneys of the kitchen that dominate the skyline of the city.

The other major building campaign that defined the structure and decoration of the palace was sponsored by King Manuel I between 1497 and 1530, using the wealth engendered by the exploratory expeditions in this Age of Discoveries. The reign of this King saw the development of a transitional Gothic-Renaissance art style, named Manueline, as well as a kind of revival of Islamic artistic influence reflected in the choice of polychromed ceramic tiles as a preferred decorative art form.

King Manuel ordered the construction of the so-called Ala Manuelina (Manuel's Wing), to the right of the main façade, decorated with typical manueline windows. He also built the Coats-of-Arms Room (Sala dos Brasões) (1515–1518), with a magnificent wooden coffered domed ceiling decorated with 72 coats-of-arms of the King and the main Portuguese noble families. The coat-of-arms of the Távora family was however removed after their conspiracy against king Joseph I.

King Manuel also redecorated most rooms with polychromed tiles specially made for him in Seville. These multicoloured tile panels bear Islamic motifs and lend an Arab feeling to many of the rooms inside.

Modern times

In the following centuries the palace continued to be inhabited by Kings from time to time, gaining new decoration in the form of paintings, tile panels and furniture. A sad story associated with the palace is that of the mentally unstable King Afonso VI, who was deposed by his brother Pedro II and forced to live without leaving the residence from 1676 until his death in 1683.

The ensemble suffered damage after the 1755 Lisbon earthquake but was restored in the 'old fashion', according to contemporary accounts. The biggest loss to the great earthquake was the tower over the Arab Room, which collapsed. At the end of the 18th century, Queen Maria I redecorated and redivided the rooms of the Ala Manuelina.

During the 19th century, Sintra became again a favourite spot for the Kings and the Palace of Sintra was frequently inhabited. Queen Amélia, in particular, was very fond of the palace and made several drawings of it. With the foundation of the Republic, in 1910, it became a national monument. In the 1940s, it was restored by architect Raul Lino, who tried to return it to its former splendour by adding old furniture from other palaces and restoring the tile panels. It has been an important historical tourist attraction ever since.

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Details

Founded: 14th century
Category: Palaces, manors and town halls in Portugal

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4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Venkat Balasubramanian (2 months ago)
Beautiful palace! Please be sure to book in advance and to download the audio guide and arrive there at 9:30 to beat the crowd. Short walk from the city center. But you’ll see a lot of taxis offering to take you there. If you don’t want to walk, use the bus service instead of the taxis. Bus services are fairly regular.
Steve Warne (3 months ago)
Amazing Disney like palace converted from a monastery to a royal palace after it collapsed in the Lisbon earthquake of 1755. If you don't like crowds avoid the interior tour as the numbers and confinement in corridors are pretty intense. Having said that the interior is spectacular. The exterior is amazing with towers and tiling. There are plenty of toilets and the gardens are lovely. If you leave by the chalet gate there's a great view back to the palace. Buy tickets in advance, enter during the correct time slot and move smartly inside if you want to view the interior, you get about 30 minutes to walk inside.
Maryam A (3 months ago)
Our visit to the National Palace of Sintra was fantastic! The palace is right in the heart of Sintra, so it’s easy to get to and a must-see if you’re into history and architecture. The interiors are stunning, with intricate tile work and beautiful ceilings that showcase centuries of Portuguese craftsmanship. Each room has its own unique charm, and you can really feel the history as you walk through. The palace also offers great views of the town from some of the windows, making it a perfect spot for photos. It’s a more relaxed visit compared to some of the other sites in Sintra, but just as impressive. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area!
bruce tehrani (3 months ago)
Sintra is a fairy-tale city, home to numerous castles such as the Moorish, Pena, and Sintra, among others. Surrounded by additional attractions, beaches, and parks, it's an essential destination for families and solo travelers alike. Ensure you purchase all your tickets online in advance for the castles and parks. During the peak season in summer, be prepared for long lines and autumn-like weather, so bring a light jacket. Since Sintra is a 30–40-minute drive or train ride away, arriving early is advisable; you'll need a full day to explore all the sights and savor the local cuisine. Wear comfortable shoes, as you'll likely walk a few miles or more, depending on your itinerary. Have a wonderful trip!
Alexandra Patriciu (3 months ago)
beautiful palace very well maintained! although the village was crowded, the palace was not so we could really enjoy the ornate ceilings, amazing details and stunning views to the surrounding areas. the gift shop was ok-ish with not so many choices. we liked the palace cafe for the break. bought tickets in advance online so very easy to access. we left the car at a parking at Sintra village entrance and we walked/took a bus for the remainder of the road.
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